Why Is Damascus Steel So Expensive? Here’s the Real Truth

When shopping for the best knives, you will come across options made from various materials, including Damascus steel. Among these materials, Damascus steel is one of the most expensive ones to go for.

You must be asking yourself, why is it so expensive? This in-depth guide into Damascus steel can help you answer this question as you explore different components of this knife material.

Here’s Why Damascus Steel Is So Expensive

Damascus steel is expensive for two main reasons. First, a lot of time and labor is put into molding and crafting the knife material. Secondly, the material used for making Damascus steel blades is pretty expensive.

So, combined with the time and labor-intensive process of making Damascus steel blades, this explains why knives made from this material are expensive. Different types of Damascus steel knives will be made from different types of steel. Therefore, the price will vary based on the quality.

What Is Damascus Steel?

Damascus steel is a metal made by hammer welding strips of iron and steel to form a wavy pattern. The strips are then heat forged repeatedly to create the distinctive patterned Damascus steel material. The material is hard, robust, and flexible.

Due to its high tensile finish and flexibility, Damascus steel is primarily used for making knife and sword blades. It also offers great edge retention and sharpness to make it an excellent option for kitchen knives.

Why Is It Called Damascus Steel?

Damascus steel actually got its name from the city of Damascus in Syria where swords and knives of this quality were originally fabricated. Damascus steel blades even still bear the striking wavy pattern, also known as the Persian watered steel. These knives are ultra-sharp and maintain a keen edge while maintaining great hardness and flexibility.

What Makes Damascus Steel So Special?

Damascus steel is easily recognized for its distinctive watery or wave-like patterned design. In addition to adding attractive aesthetics to your kitchen, the Damascus steel patterns add to the blade’s function. Damascus steel patterns allow the blade to produce razor-sharp blades with incredible edge retention.

However, this is not all that makes the Damascus steel special. With a lot of time and labor put into the blade material, it features a pretty hard, robust, yet, flexible finish.

How Much Better Is Damascus Steel Than Normal Steel?

Damascus steel is way better than normal steel. When it comes to the Rockwell hardness, a normal steel blade will have an average rating of around 25. However, a Damascus steel blade will have an average rating of about 35 to 40, although you can find some that extend to about 50 to 60.

This gives the Damascus steel better sharpness, edge retention, robustness, and usability. Nonetheless, to truly score the best Damascus steel knife you have to figure out the type of steel it is made from. The type of steel used in making Damascus steel plays a significant role in determining the quality.

What Is Better Than Damascus Steel?

Today, Modern carbon steel is way better than Damascus steel. Knifemakers continue to devise new technology and methods for fabricating knife blades. This has led to a much-improved fabrication of steel.

Compared to Damascus steel, modern carbon steel offers a sharper blade with longer edge retention. Additionally, modern steel is harder and more corrosion-resistant. Nonetheless, it is much easier to mold and craft knives using modern steel.

How Many Layers Should Damascus Steel Have?

Typically, Damascus steel will have anywhere between 300 and 500 layers. In fact, it’s these layers that give Damascus steel the distinctive wave pattern and its robust hardness characteristics. For the most part, however, the layers only affect the aesthetics rather than the performance.

Why Does Damascus Steel Have A Pattern?

Damascus steel gets its distinctive patterns from the way it is fabricated. The iron and steel hammer welding, heat forging, and layer folding process create the patterns on the material. During these processes, the material is slowly cooled to form crystalline material that contains carbide. The carbide is the actual pattern material.

Are Damascus Steel Knives Easy to Sharpen?

Damascus steel knives are pretty easy to sharpen. In fact, these knives don’t require any special sharpening technique. You can use the same technique you use for other types of knives to sharpen a Damascus steel knife. Ideally, you want to use a sharpening whetstone to effectively sharpen a Damascus steel knife.

Does Damascus Steel Rust?

Generally, most Damascus steel knives are prone to rust. However, this shouldn’t be a cause for concern. This is because, with proper care, you can easily protect a Damascus steel knife from rust. The number one enemy of Damascus steel knives is moisture.

So, you want to avoid leaving the knife in places where it will be susceptible to moisture build-up, including your kitchen sink drying rack. With technological advancements, more Damascus steel knives made from different types of steel are hitting the market.

You can easily find options that aren’t prone to rust. For example, you can find kitchen Damascus steel knives that especially use stainless steel in their blade fabrication to reduce the likelihood of rust and corrosion build-up.

Does Damascus Knife Stay Longer? If Yes, Why?

A Damascus knife stays longer, maintaining its sharpness and edge. Typically, these knives can stay longer due to their design and patterns. The wave patterns of a Damascus blade create micro serrations throughout the blade and edge.

In turn, the micro serrations allow the knife to retain its sharpness for longer (think of this property as you would with a serrated fillet knife). In addition to the patterns, the high-quality material and attention-to-detail workmanship employed during the fabrication of Damascus knives help to enhance their blade sharpness and edge retention.

How Much Should a Good Damascus Knife Cost?

You should expect to pay anywhere between $50 on the low end and $200 on the high end for a Damascus knife. You can still find a good bargain at around $50 to $100.

However, if you want to enjoy stellar craftsmanship and the highest quality steel material used for the knife, you should set aside at least $200 or more for a Damascus knife. Nevertheless, this is not to say that lower-priced knives aren’t of good quality and won’t get the job done.

Are Damascus Steel Knives Worth It?

Damascus steel knives are worth every penny and the investment. As previously mentioned, you can find better and more modern carbon steel knives on the market. However, nothing beats the uniqueness of a Damascus steel knife. They make excellent kitchen knife options if made from the right type of steel.

In addition to their robustness and flexibility, their patterns are pretty distinctive and add style to your kitchen. Aesthetics aside, their unique patterns come with great functionality, whether it’s to improve your slicing and dicing performance or to retain the edge for much longer. While the knives feature a unique finish, they are still pretty easy to sharpen and maintain.

Wrapping Up

Undoubtedly, Damascus steel knives are among the most expensive knife options on the market. Evidently, this comes with a reason and makes them quite worth the investment. Aside from their robustness and high hardness rating, Damascus steel knives are very durable.

Their distinctive patterns don’t only give your kitchen an aura of style and elegance. They also boost the knife’s functions, allowing for better cutting performance and retaining their edge for much longer.